Bunbury keen for shires merger

The City of Bunbury says it is in talks with the Western Australian Government to amalgamate with three surrounding shires.

Mayor David Smith says the city should merge with the shires of Capel, Harvey and Dardanup to enable them to better serve residents.

He says Premier Colin Barnett will soon visit the south-west to discuss the plan.

Councillor Smith says the City of Bunbury is keen to merge but says the three shires are reluctant because they believe with growing populations, they should remain separate.

"That's not my view, it's not the view of council," he said.

"We believe that there should be an amalgamation and we're prepared to give the surrounding areas seven councillors and we'll have five, so they'll actually be taking us over, not the other way around."

He says an amalgamation would enable more funding for projects that would benefit all constituents.

"We agree with the Premier. We don't believe that Bunbury can be the true second capital of Western Australia without amalgamation, especially with the increases in money now being paid to councillors and to mayors and presidents," he said.

"I think that just strengthens the need for a single local authority."